Oof, perhaps. Grim take.
It’s definitely not a “good guys win” novel.

Mountain biking minutes from home in British Columbia, Canada.

Done but I’ve got questions. These heroic efforts all felt so arbitrary.
Cool explosions though!

Iain Banks’ Consider Phlebas and a pint at the local brewery.

Finished ✅
This book is about things falling apart or blowing up. Ships, space stations, shuttles, plans, loyalties, people. Everything explodes in terrific detail against a huge space opera backdrop.
A few things don’t blow up. Those are the most interesting bits.

Book blurb by William Gibson on the back of this 1987 edition of Consider Phlebas by Banks.

PLUS this edition has a blurb from my favourite, @greatdismal.bsky.social

Reading the classics on a beach vacation. Some subreddit list suggested the Culture series as one of the greats of the genre, so here we go! Consider Phlebas, by Iain M. Banks, published 1987.
#booksky 💙📚🪐

THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL by Ira Levin book cover

Interior prose: Liebermann said, "Don't you know where they came from? Originally, I mean? "The boys? From Brazil."

Leo pointing dot gif

Paperback cover of Len Deighton’s Spy Hook, part 1 of the Hook, Line and Sinker trilogy.

My fourth novel by Len Deighton: Spy Hook (1988). His espionage novels were recommended by a well-read and academic colleague. Copies were abundantly available in my favourite used book store.

Finished! ✔️

Did not finish this damn thing before leaving for vacation. 12 pages left and I refused to be encumbered by its 400+ page bulk.

There seems to be a hell of a lot to wrap up in 12 pages, ngl.

Vacation read, The Twist of a Knife (2022) by Anthony Horowitz.
Started this one once, dropped it, restarted from scratch today.

Half way through Hyperion now!

Cover of Dan Simmons’ Hyperion, paperback edition.

I understand Dan Simmons died today. I’m half way through his novel, Hyperion. It’s my first time reading his work, and it’s puzzling and beautiful and enormous in scope.

Formative!

The cover of the book *This is How You Lose the Time War* by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Thys was my Heated Rivalrye

Wouldn’t call it much of a sci-fi either. But the characters, language and impossible scenario made it engaging.

Enjoyed it, too. I don’t read much romance, but I think it did what it promised: showed how to trap, seduce and fuck a Victorian naval captain. The rest was just scenery.

The Ministry of Time, by Kaliane Bradley (2024).

Done reading my first novel of 2026, The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. Love a book that starts with an historical map! #booksky💙📚🪐

Mountain bike on steep climbing trails on Eagle Mountain, #Coquitlam, BC.

Beautiful day to ride a bicycle in the forest.

That is very cool

Front cover, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Colleague was looking for someone to lend her a copy of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden.

I actually happened to have a copy!

Colleague at work: “You look like someone who reads.”
Now I’m wondering what that looks like. What’s my tell?
Better than looking like “someone who doesn’t read.”
#booksky 💙 📚 🪐

I am now aware. Thank you for the contribution.

Lyrics to Truckin’ by the Grateful Dead. Says “doodah man”, I heard “two dog man.”

I swear I heard “Two Dog Man” but apparently it was “doodah man.”
Nevertheless, I’m Two Dog Man from this point.

Fascinated by this jam band called the Grateful Dead. I’ve always been aware of them, I suppose, but had never really listened

Lost my wallet walking the dogs in the woods this afternoon. I was home for only 10 minutes before someone rang my doorbell and returned it! Hadn’t even realized I’d dropped it!
Pretty appreciative of this community. #Coquitlam

Full colour illustration form Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Dungeon Master’s guide, published 1989.

Gonna tell my kids this was Castle Rat from back in the day.
Anyone remember this? From #AD&D 2E Dungeon Master’s Guide.

Dennis E Taylor’s We Are Legion

Signed copy of We Are Legion by Dennis E Taylor.

No shade on e-books, but your friendly, local sci-fi author’s not gonna sign your e-reader.
Dennis E Taylor’s signature on my copy of We Are Legion. #booksky

Just a holiday reminder! 😂

Dance Yrself Clean by LCD sound system

Millennials haven’t had easy lives but at least we’ll always have this beat drop at 3:07